Coin controlled mechanism



May 11, 1937. H. s. BENJAMIN COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Original FiledJuly 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR d? ATTORN EY.S

May 1937- H. s. BENJAMIN COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Original Filed July12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\&&\\\\\\\\sATTORNEYS Patented May 11, 193'? UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE Originalapplication July 12, 1935, Serial No.

31,068. Divided and this application February 10, 1936, Serial No.63,183

Claims.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 31,068 filedJuly 12, 1935, for Coin controlled vending machine, and relates moreparticularly to mechanism for controlling coins, tokens, slugs and thelike inserted in a vending machine to release the vending mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for returning tothe operator, a second coin inserted after the insertion of a first coinand before the machine has been operated to vend merchandise; and afmt-her object is to provide means for locking said coin return means inoperative position against displacement by the second inserted coin,.and for positively returning said coin return means to inoperativeposition upon each vending operation.

It is also an object to provide coin controlled means including stopmeans to prevent operation of the vending means, and to provide latchmeans to hold said stop means in inoperative position, said coincontrolled means also including means operated by said vending means forpositively resetting said latch means after release and for retractingcoin return means.

It is a further object to provide a simple, compact, and positivelyoperated mechanism for the purpose and having certain other new anduseful features, all as hereinafter more fully set forth and as shown inthe accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a vending machine illustrative of anembodiment of the present invention and showing internal mechanism inelevation;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional detail substantially upon the lines 2-2of Fig. '1;

Fig. 3 is a similar section substantially upon the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation smilar to that of Fig. 1

- showing parts of the vending mechanism omitted and the coin controlledmechanism in normal or inoperative position, and

Fig. 5 is an elevational detail of the coin controlled mechanismsubstantially upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Illustrative of an embodiment of the present invention in an operativevending machine, the accompanying drawings show a suitable casing l, aplurality of merchandise chutes 2 from the lower open ends of whichchutes, the merchandise in packages, is removed, one package at a timeby means of feed blocks 3, and are discharged into a single chute 4leading to a delivery cup 5. These blocks are rotated through the mediumof gears 6 connected to said blocks and intermeshed for simultaneousrotation, motion being transmitted to said gears through an idler gearand a ratchet I, which ratchet is turned by means of an arm 8 mountedfor free turning movement independently of said ratchet and carryingpawl 9 to engage said ratchet, said arm being connected to a verticallyslidable plate [0 connected to said arm by a pin on said arm engaging aslot in said plate. To actuate this slide plate 10, a power shaft Itextends through a vertical guide slot in the lower end of said plate andis provided with means for turning said shaft by hand. Mounted upon thisshaft H is a cam member 12 shown in dotted lines arranged to engage apair of pins or studs H! on said plate, one at each side of the verticalguide slot in said plate, said plate being normally held in raisedposition by the engagement of said cam beneath one of said studs. Uponrotation of said cam, said plate will descend. provided it is not heldagainst such movement by latch mechanism hereinafter described, therebyswinging the arm 8 to engage the pawl 9 with the next notch of theratchet I, so that upon further turning of said cam in the samedirection, said plate will be positively raised by said cam coming intoengagement with the other stud and rotate the said ratchet to eiTect thedelivery of a package from some one of the several chutes or magazines2, the construction, arrangement and operation of the mechanism thus fardescribed being substantially the same as shown and described in myprior Patent No. 1,851,081.

To control the downward movement of said actuating plate It, so that, ifother than a good coin be inserted, the plate will be stopped to preventdelivery of merchandise, the upper end of said plate is provided with alaterally extending lug it to engage a stop member I5 pivotallysupported to be swung into and out of the path of said lug by means of acrank arm IE to which the upper end of a bar I! is pivotally attached.The lower end of this bar 91 is pivotally connected to the free end of aswinging arm is pivotally supported at its opposite end upon a coinchute I9 outside of said chute, which arm is formed with a notch orshoulder to engage a coin stop arm 2! having a laterally bent end 22adapted to be projected through a side opening in said chute across thepath of a coin passing down said chute when said stop arm 2! is releasedfrom said shoulder 26 and said arm is turned upon its pivot by means ofa spring 23 tending to swing said stop arm toward said chute andnormally hold it in latched position against said shoulder. To swingsaid coin stop arm ZI against the action of said spring 23 and bring itinto latched or normal position with its end 22 held retracted from saidcoin chute, a semi-circular flange 24 is secured to one side of acircular head 25 rotatable with said power shaft I I to engage the lowerend of said arm 2| when said head is rotated.

To release the arm I8 from engagement with the stop arm 2!, a trip plate26 is pivotally supported at one end intermediate the ends of the barI"! to extend transversely thereof and above a laterally extending pin2? on said bar with its free end extending through an opening in theside of said coin chute I9, so that when a coin passing down said chutestrikes said trip plate, said plate will be swung thereby against saidpin therebeneath with sufiicient force to move said bar I i downwardlyagainst the action of a light coiled spring 28 which is of justsuflicient strength to overbalance the weight of said bar and attachedparts, and unlatch said arm I8 from engagement with the coin stop arm2i, the end 22 of which will be immediately projected across the path ofthe coin passing downv said chute and stop and support said coin untilsuch time as the stop is withdrawn as hereinafter described, when itwill pass on down said chute I 9 and thence into an inclined chute 29leading to a coin box 30 at the bottom of the casing. This down movementof the bar I! swings the stop member I5 out of the path of the lug It onthe plate In, so that said plate may move on downwardly, provided it bereleased and actuated as hereinafter described, all of the elements sofar described and their operation being substantially the same as setforth in my hereinbefore mentioned patent.

The latching up of the bar I! and stop member I5 into normal position,as shown in Figure 2, is acomplished by a turning of the head 25 whichbrings its semi-circular flange 2% into engagement with the lower end ofthe coin stop arm 2I at the proper time, thus swinging said arm intoposition to engage a laterally extending lug 3| thereon, with theshoulder or notch 2!] on the arm I8. As shown in my prior patent, thespring 28 is relied upon to raise said bar and arm, but as this springis necessarily weak, due to the fact that it must yield under the impactof a coin upon the trip plate 26 in .passing down the chute I9, in orderto release the arm l8 from en.- gagement with the stop arm lug 3i, saidspring might not function to raise said bar I I and arm I8 as it shouldbut slightly overbalance the weight of said arm and bar, and thereforein the present construction, said bar I! is formed with a laterallyextending lug 32 of considerable width, adjacent the pivotal attachmentof said bar to said arm 18, and this lug is formed with an inclined endedge 33 adapted to be engaged by the upper edge of the lug 3! on thestop arm 2! when the upper end of said arm is positively swung towardsaid bar by the engagement of the flange 24 with its lower end. The barI! and arm I8 are thus positively raised regardless of the operation ofthe spring 28, due to the down ward inclination of the end 33 of thislug 32 into engagement with which said lug 3i on said stop arm 2i comes,when said stop arm, is so swung.

Should the operator insert a proper coin in the coin chute I9 and beforeoperating the machine, should he insert a second coin, he would getnothing for one of these coins, were it not that the present coincontrol mechanism is provided with means for returning to him, thesecond coin inserted, this means comprising a crank arm 34 secured tothe same pivot shaft to which the stop arm I5 and crank arm I6 aresecured, to turn therewith, said shaft being mounted in suitablebearings on a suitable bracket secured to the coin chute I9 at aconsiderable distance below its upper end. This arm 3d carries at itsfree end, a laterally projecting pin 35 to engage within a substantiallyL-shaped slot in the tail end of a lever 36 pivotally supportedintermediate its ends outside of and adjacent said chute, and having atits opposite or lower end, a laterally extending deflector blade 31adapted to be projected across the path of a coin passing down saidchute i9, through an opening in a side wall of said chute when saidlever 36 is turned by the turning of the arm 3t with the stop member I5by the release of the latch mechanism through the medium of the firstinserted coin striking the trip plate 26, as previously described. Whensaid latch mechanism is tripped and the stop member I5 is turned therebyto the position shown in Figure 4, the lever 36 is simultaneouslyturned, projecting its deflector blade 37 across the path of the secondcoin passing down said chute. This blade is so arranged and positionedrelative to the open upper end of a coin chute 38, see Fig. 5, leadinglaterally from said chute I9, that the second coin striking this bladewill be deflected laterally into said chute 38 and therefore this secondinserted coin will be returned to the operator by beingdelivered intothe delivery cup 5.

To insure that the lever 36 will be held with its blade 3i projectedinto said chute 59 after said lever has been turned by the unlatchingand dropping of the bar I1, one arm of the L-slot in the lever 35 intowhich the pin 35 projects, is curved concentric with the pivot of thearm 34, and therefore impact of a coin upon the blade 3? will not tendto jar the lever and cause it to rock, withdrawing the blade from acrossthe chute sufiiciently to permit the coin to pass the blade.

This curving of said slot also permits the arm 34 and eifecting a quickwithdrawal of the blade 37 after the stop member I5 has been movedtoward position to stop the down movement of the actuating plate 60which effects the delivery of merchandise.

With the present construction of coin control mechanism, the return of asecond coin inserted before the machine is operated to delivermerchandise, is insured by the locking of the deflector 36 in operativeposition upon each insertion of a coin, and the positive latching up ofthe parts after each operation, in, position to be operated by theinsertion of a succeeding coin also in.- sures against loss to theoperator and makes for efficient operation, The present construction,arrangement and combination of parts provides a very simple, compact andeflicient mechanism for the purpose which may be modified in detailwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and such changes arecontemplated.

What I claim is:

1. In a vending machine, the combination with merchandise deliverymechanism; of coin controlled mechanism for controlling the operation ofsaid delivery mechanism and including a coin chute, a trip memberprojecting into said chute to be operated by a coin passing down saidchute to release said coin controlled mechanism, a coin deflector, andmeans operated by said trip member to release said coin controlledmechanism and to project said deflector into said coin chute in timedrelation to the operation of said trip member to deflect a second coininserted in said chute.

2. In a vending machine, the combination with merchandise deliverymechanism, of coin controlled means for controlling the operation ofsaid delivery mechanism, said coin controlled means including a coinchute and latch mechanism adapted to be released by a coin passing downsaid chute and including a member operated by said coin to release saiddelivery mechanism, a deflector projected by said member of said latchmechanism into said chute, and means operated by said delivery mechanismfor resetting said latch mechanism and retracting said deflector fromsaid chute.

3. In a vending machine, the combination with merchandise deliverymechanism; of coin controlled mechanism for controlling the operation ofsaid delivery mechanism and including a coin chute, means within saidchute for operating said coin controlled mechanism by the descent of acoin in said chute, a deflector for projection into said chute above andspaced from said operating means, and means for operatively connectingsaid deflector and said coin controlled mechanism to project saiddeflector into said chute upon operation of said operating means by saidcoin and to hold said deflector in operative position in said chuteagainst displacement by impact thereagainst of a second coin inserted insaid chute before said delivery mechanism has been operated to delivermerchandise.

4. In a vending machine, the combination with merchandise deliverymechanism; of coin controlled mechanism for controlling the operation ofsaid delivery mechanism and including a coin chute, a trip memberprojecting into said chute to be operated by a coin passing down saidchute to release said coin controlled mechanism, a coin deflector, andmeans connecting said coin controlled mechanism and said deflectoroperative to project said deflector into said coin chute and includinginterlocking means to hold said deflector in projected position againstthe impact of a second coin inserted in said chute before the operationof said delivery mechanism.

5. In a vending machine, the combination with merchandise deliverymechanism; of coin controlled mechanism for controlling the operation ofsaid delivery mechanism and including a coin chute, a trip member forprojection into said chute to be operated by a coin passing down saidchute to release said coin controlled mechanism, a pivotally supporteddeflector, a member operated by said coin controlled mechanism, meansconnecting said member and deflector to swing said deflector by movementof said member and means for permitting movement of said member relativeto said deflector and for locking said deflector in projected position.

6. In a vending machine, the combination with a coin chute, andmerchandise delivery mechanism; of means for controlling the operationof said delivery mechanism, said means including latch mechanismoperated by a coin passing down said chute to release said deliverymechanism, a deflector projected by said latch mechanism into saidchute, simultaneously with the release of said latch mechanism, andlocking means operated by said latch mechanism for locking saiddeflector in projected position.

7. In a vending machine, the combination with a coin chute, downwardlywithin which coins are fed by gravity, and merchandise deliverymechanism; of means for controlling the operation of said deliverymechanism, said means including latch mechanism and a trip member forsaid mechanism extending into said chute to be operated by a coinpassing down said chute and to operate said trip mechanism for releasingsaid delivery mechanism, a deflector connected to said trip mechanism tobe projected thereby into said chute above said trip member andsimultaneously with the tripping of said trip member, to deflect fromsaid chute, a second coin passing down said chute, and means operated bysaid latch mechanism for operating said deflector and for providing lostmotion therebetween to permit operation of said mechanism in advance ofthe operation of said deflector and effect a quick operation of saiddeflector by the final operation of said mechanism.

8. In a vending machine including a casing, a coin chute extendingdownward in said casing, merchandise delivery mechanism in said casing,and means for controlling the operation of said delivery mechanism, saidmeans including latch mechanism. and a trip member for said mechanismextending into said chute to be operated by a coin passing down saidchute and to operate said trip mechanism for releasing said deliverymechanism, a deflector connected to said trip mechanism to be projectedthereby into said chute above said trip member and simultaneously withthe tripping of said trip member to deflect from said chute, a secondcoin passing down said chute, and means operated by the operation ofsaid delivery mechanism for positively resetting said latch mechanismand retracting said deflector from said chute, said means beingoperatively connected with said delivery mechanism to be operatedthereby.

9. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing, a coin chute insaid casing, and merchandise delivery mechanism in said casing andincluding an operating member; of means for controlling the operation ofsaid delivery mechanism, including a stop member, latch mechanism forholding said stop member in position to prevent operation of saiddelivery mechanism, said latch mechanism including a pivoted armoperatively connected with said stop member to operate the same, asecond arm formed to engage and releasably hold said first named armwith said stop member in position to prevent opation of said deliverymechanism, said second named arm being operative to positively swingsaid first named arm to bring said arms into latching engagement witheach other, means on said operating member of said delivery mechanismfor operating said second named arm, and means operated by a coinpassing down said chute for moving said first named arm to disengage itfrom said second named arm and release said stop member.

10. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing, a coin chute insaid casing, and merchandise delivery mechanism. in said casing andincluding an operating shaft; of coin controlled means for controllingthe operation of said delivery mechanism including a pivotally supportedstop member adapted to be swung into the path of movement of a member ofsaid delivery mechanism to prevent operation of said 10 for swingingmovement longitudinally of said first arm. and provided with a lug toengage thereover and contact a shoulder thereon, said lug on said secondnamed arm being adapted to also engage said end surface of said lug onsaid 15 bar when. swung toward said bar and positively raise said firstnamed arm into engagement with said lug on said second named arm, aspring exerting an upward force on said bar sufiicient to overcome theweight of said bar and first named arm, a trip member supported adjacentsaid chute and extending transversely of said bar into said chute andadapted to be operated by a coin passing down said chute to move saidbar downwardly and release said first named arm from. engagement withsaid lug on said second named arm, and means on said operating shaft ofsaid delivery mechanism for swinging said second named arm to reset saidlatch mechanism.

HARRY S. BENJAMIN.

